Re: Camel or Rope?
David L. Moore (dvdmoore@ix.netcom.com)
Wed, 02 Oct 1996 10:22:54 -0400
David L. Moore wrote:
>
> Kevin W. Woodruff wrote:
> >
> > Yes the word KAMHLOS (camel) and KAMILOS (rope or cable). But this is not
> > the solution for Matthew 19:24
> >
> > At 06:49 AM 10/1/96 -0700, you wrote:
> > > I'm new to the list so forgive me if this has
> > > been asked before ... Is there a Greek word
> > > for "camel" that if it is changed by one letter
> > > becomes a word for "cable" or "rope"?
> > >
> > > Ed Van Etten
> > > Ontario, California
> > > vanetten.edward@corona.navy.mil
> > >
>
> Luke's word for needle, in the parallel of this passage in
> Matthew, is BELONH which is different than the word the latter uses.
> Moulton and Milligan cite Hobart to the effect that BELONH refers
> specifically to the needle used in surgical operations (W. K. Hobart,
> _The Medical Language of Saint Luke_, [London, 1882], p. 61, as cited in
> M&M, s.v. BELONH). Nevertheless, I could find no medical references to
> BELONH in L&S or BAGD.
>
> Luke's use, however, of a different word meaning "needle" does
> indicate that attestation for this interpretatation is very ancient; and
> Bl-DeB is probably correct in considering the v. l. in Matthew of KAMILOS
> for KAMHLOS a "later artificial rationalization" (Bl-DeB, #24).
I apologize to all for having added to this thread something that
wasn't really to the point of the question Kevin Woodruff had asked. I
incorporated some notes I had previously made on this passage that didn't
correctly address his question.
To make ammends, I want to mention that the Babylonian Talmud has a
similar expression to the hyperbole used in Mat. 19:24. Only it employs the
figure of an elephant passing through the eye of a needle - the largest animals
in Babylon being elephants and in Israel, camels (BT Berakoth 55b, as cited in
EBC, vol. 8, D. A. Carson, _Matthew_, p. 425; and GNC, Robert H. Mounce,
_Matthew_, p. 187).
--
David L. Moore Director
Miami, Florida, USA Department of Education
dvdmoore@ix.netcom.com Southeastern Spanish District
http://www.netcom.com/~dvdmoore of the Assemblies of God